Material handling devices



Oct. 31, 1961 3,006,491

M. N. BRAUBACH MATERIAL HANDLING DEVICES Filed May l1, 1956 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 BY du Wm ATTORNEYS;

Oct. 31, 1961 M. N. BRAUBACH MATERIAL HANDLING DEVICES Filed May l1, 1956 BY M i ATTORNEYS Oct. 31, 1961 M. N. BRAUBACH 3,006,491

MATERIAL HANDLING DEVICES Filed May l1, 1956 4 Sheets-Sheet '3 Oct. 31, 1961 M. N. BRAUBACH 3,006,491

MATERIAL HANDLING DEVICES 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed May 1l, 1956 ATTORNEXS United States Patent O 3,006,491 MATERIAL HANDLING DEVICES Marian N. Brauhach, San Antonio, Tex., assignor to Dempster Brothers, Inc., Knoxville, Tenn., a corporation of Tennessee Filed May 11, 1956, Ser. No. 584,385 13 Claims. (Cl. 214-317) T'nis invention relates to improvements in material handling devices of the type commonly referred to as fork trucks wherein a movable truck body is provided with an upright frame, and a power operated load carrying device is movable upwardly and downwardly on the frame for handling various containers and other articles.

A fork truck of this type usually comprises a selfpropelled vehicle having an upright track on the forward end thereof, and a load-lifting device mounted on the track for up and down movement with respect thereto. The load lifting device usually includes a pair of horizontally extending arms rigidly mounted in iixed relation t the load-lifting device, to engage the container or other article to be elevated and to lift the latter for transportation.

Refuse containers have been used extensively, adapted to sit upon the ground or door for filling, after which each of these containers may be lifted through hoisting mechanism, transported to a dumping point and thereafter returned to a point of use. The hoisting mechanism usually provided for such containers has included flexible cable devices, such as chains, that are adapted for engagement with lifting pins on the ends of the container for supporting the latter during transportation. In attaching or detaching the container to the hoisting mechanism, it is necessary that an operator be used for accomplishing the connection or disconnection of the ilexible devices with the containers, usually requiring a separate or additional operator from the one who drives the truck.

One object of this invention is to reduce the number of operators or attendants required for such hoisting mechanism by enabling the driver to accomplish the full and entire operation without the use of an outside attendant and while he is still seated in the vehicle.

Another object of the invention is to provide in a lift truck-type of vehicle for the engagement, transportation and dumping of drop bottom containers, all under the control of the operator of the vehicle and without the necessity for leaving his position in the vehicle during such operations.

Still another object of the invention is to simplify and improve the construction of material handling devices of the lift truck type by providing for the engagement of lifting pins on a container and the secure attachment of the container to the material handling device for transportation and dumping.

These objects may be accomplished, according to one embodiment of the invention, by the provision on the carriage of a lift truck of extended aprons thereon, adapted to be engaged by the container and having lifting arms pivotally mounted on the extended carriage portions in positions for engaging runder the lifting pins of the container that may be received therebetween and power operated to positions for holding the container in engaged position on the carriage. Power devices may be connected with the arms, preferably hydraulically operated, for swinging these in vertical directions under the control of the operator. v

The container is usually provided with a bail connected with the body thereof at one side, approximately midway of the length of the container. An automatic hook or catch is provided on the carriage in position for engaging the bail to secure the body of the container to the carriage,

"ice

especially when the latter is elevated or during transportation and dumping, to permit the drop bottom door of the container to open for discharge of the contents therefrom.

'This embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. l is a side elevation of a material handling device of the fork truck type showing the application of the invention thereto and with the container in its -lowered position being elevated;

FIG. Z is a similar view, with the container raised to an elevated position;

FIG. 3 is a similar view, with the container elevated and the drop bottom door open for discharging the contents therefrom;

elG. 4 is a cross section through the carriage, showing the automatic catch in closed position;

FIG. 5 is a similar view, showing the catch open;

FIG. 6 is a front elevation of the carriage and with the remaining parts of the fork truck omitted;

FIG. 7 is a top plan view thereof; and

FiG. 8 is a side elevation thereof.

Referring to FIGS. l, 2 and 3, a conventional form of material handling device of the fork truck type is illustrated therein as an example of a vehicle to which this invention may be applied. The truck shown has a suitable body, generally indicated at 1, and is self-propelled, being supported on wheels 2 and steered by an operator from a convenient position within the body 1, as on a seat ii. The steering wheel is shown at 4.

Mounted on one end of the truck or vehicle, such, for example, as the front end thereof, is an upright track, generally indicated at 5, comprising a pair of upright guide members spaced apart transversely and suitably braced and connected together by tie members 6. This upright track 5 is usually pivotally mounted at its lower end to the front of the body 1 on a horizontal axis for swinging movement in a direction forward and rearward of the body 1. A suitable means is shown at i for accomplishing such swinging movement of the track 5 from power means contained within the body or connected therewith. The normal position of the track 5 is upright, as shown in FIGS. l and 3, but during transportation the frame may be moved to the inclined position, as shown in FIG. 2.

Mounted on the upright track 5 is a carriage, generally indicated at 8, the crossbars of which are illustrated at 9 and 10 in FIGS. 6 and 7. Suitable guide means is normally provided on the carriage for guiding the movement thereof along the upright track 5, such movement being accomplished by suitable elevating mechanism. These parts of a lift truck may, for example, be made as disclosed in the Dempster et al. patent, No. 2,702,645, February 22, 1955, although any conventional form of lift truck suitable for the purpose may be used, as desired. Consequently, the hoisting mechanism is not illustrated in detail. The chains usually provided for raising and lowering the carriage may be attached to connecting members 11, adjustably connected with the crossbar 9 in this embodiment of the invention, or any suitable connecting means may be used, as desired.

It is desirable to accommodate containers of a size and shape such as are conventionally used for the containing of refuse. Such containers usually are of greater length than is the width of the carriage 5 ordinarily provided on most fork trucks. Consequently, the carriage should be extended, if needed, to accommodate containers of the requisite size.

In this embodiment of the invention, extended aprons are provided on opposite sides of the Carriage 5, as indicated generally at 12. As shown in FIGS. 6 to 8, each of these extension aprons is of box structure, supported by the end face plate 13 that is customarily provided on each end of the carriage 5.

Each extension apron 12 is shown as formed of a pair of upright face plates 14 and 15 spaced apart. The plates 14 and 15 are closed at one edge by an end plate 16, while the opposite edges of these plates 14 and -15 have interposed therebetween a pair of channels 17 turned edge-to-edge to form an enclosed box. An outer edge plate 18 closes the box structure of the plates 14-16 and extends rearwardly therefrom to a remote position to form a mounting extension thereon. A sep-arate mounting plate is shown at 19 extending parallel with the plate 18 from the box structure 14-18. The plate 18 need not extend throughout the length of the plates 14 and 15, and is shown in FIG. 8 as extending only partway along the height thereof.

The channel members 17 form supporting members for a lifting arm 20 provided at each side of the carriage. The lifting arm 20 extends horizontally through suitable slots provided in the supporting members 17 and plates 14 and 15, capable of swinging to different positions with respect thereto, as indicated in FIGS. 1 to 3. A shoulder is shown at 21 in FIG. 8 provided by suitable bracing means between the supporting members 17 for limiting the downward swinging movement of the free ends of the lifting arms. Each lifting arm 20 is pivotally mounted on a journal member 22, such as a bolt or pin extending transversely through the channel members 17.

The free outer end of each arm 20 is deflected laterally, as indicated at 23. These deflected ends on the pair of arms 20 are turned in opposite directions away from each other to facilitate the guiding of the container between the arms lin the attachment of the container to the material handling device.

The opposite end of each lifting -arm 20 is connected with a power device, generally indicated at 24. In the form shown, each power device 24 preferably comprises a hydraulic cylinder having a piston therein, with a piston rod 25 pivotally connected at 26 to the rearward end of the `arm, 20 projecting through the box-like apron structure. The power devices 24 for the respective arms are adapted to be operated under control of the operator of the vehicle. In this form where hydraulic power devices are used, flexible cable connections may extend therefrom to suitable valve means in the vehicle, which connections are not shown in detail as these are well known in the alt of hydraulic power devices.

Each hydraulic power `device 24 extends between the mounting plates 18 and 19. A pair of -trunnions 27 secured to opposite sides of the cylinder of the power device 24 are journaled in suitable bearing means, generally indicated at 28 in FIG. 7, to permit of swinging movement of the power device 24 with respect to the carriage to accommodate for the shifting movement of the larm 20 connected therewith.

The invention is shown as applicable to a suitable container, generally indicated at C, and provided with a drop bottom door D hinged at the left hand edge of the door, as viewed in FGS. 1 to 3, to the body of the container C. The door D is provided with lifting pins P connected therewith approximately midway of the width of the door in positions for engagement of the lifting arms 20 beneath these pins in picking up and supporting the container during transportation.

The container C also has a lifting bail B connected With the body thereof Vat one side of the container toward the carriage 8. This bail B is usually mounted approximately midway of the length of the container, on or above one of the walls thereof, in position for lifting engagement to support the body of the container during dumping of the contents. It is preferred that a catch be .provided on the carriage 8 for engagement with the bail- B to hold the body of the container on the carriage during dumping.

In this embodiment of the invention, a safety catch is provided, such as is shown in FIGS. 4 and 5. A pair of hooks 29 are pivotally mounted at 30 to the body of the carriage 8 in superposed relation and with opposed complementary notches 31 in their adjacent edges and formed in proximity to bevelled ends 32 on the hook members 29. These hook members extend inwardly of the carriage one over the other, as shown, and are arranged in rocking positions with respect to each other on the pivot 30. The ends of the hook members 29 opposite from the bevelled ends 32 are provided with opposed ylocking seats 33 normally spaced apart when the hook members are in their closed positions, as shown in FIG. 4.

A latch bar is shown at 34 in position to enter between the locking shoulders 33 when the hook members are closed, as shown in FIG. 4, and to be withdrawn from locking engagement therewith, to permit opening of the members, as shown in FIG. 5. It will be apparent that the hook members 29 can be engaged with the bail B and locked in connection therewith by the bar 34, which engagement will lbe maintained until the bar 34 is removed positively from the locking shoulders 33.

The bar 34 is guided in its movements through a sleeve 35. Normally, the bar 34 is pressed in a direction to enter between the spaced shoulders 33 by a coiled spring 36 interposed between one end of the bar 34 and a closed end of the guide sleeve 35.

A pin 37 is connected with the bar 34 and extends from the sleeve 35. A bellcrank lever is shown -at 38 connected with the pin 37 for moving the latter to withdraw the bar 34 from locking engagement with the hook members. The lever 38 has an enlarged slot therein through which the pin 37 extends loosely, thereby forming a loose connection between the lever and the pin. The lever 38 is pivotally supported at 39' on a suitable mounting within the carriage 8.

The bellcrank lever 38 extends upward and forward over the carriage 8, as shown in FIG. 3. A flexible device is shown at 39, extending from the upper end of the lever 38 to a point within convenient reach of the operator. A cable, chain, or other suitable means may lbe used for this purpose, operating over suitable guides on the vehicle.

It -is referred that the lever 38 be spring pressed in one direction so as to return readily to its normal position. -A spring 40 is connected therewith for this purpose, being anchored `at one end to the lever and at its opposite end to the guide 35. Springs are shown `also at 41 connected with the hook members 29 normally tending to open these, as shown in FIG. 5.

'I'he operation o-f the material handling device will be apparent from the foregoing description. This device is adapted to pick up a loaded container C, raise the latter to an elevated position, as shown in FIG. 2, or to a suitable carrying position on the vehicle wherein it may be transported to a position for dumping. At the dumping position, the container is moved to the top of the upright track 5, as shown in FIG. 3, and is secured thereon, and the drop bottom door D is opened for discharging the contents therefrom. All of this operation can be performed under the control of the vehicle operator, without requiring an additional attendant on the ground. This effects `a saving of one operator and also a saving of at least fifty percent of the time.

The operator moves the vehicle to the container C when the latter is standing on the `ground or on the floor or other place for lling. In such position, the lifting ams 20 are lowered by the carriage 8 to positions so as to extend beneath the lifting pins P. As the vehicle is moved up to the container in this position, these lifting arms 20 straddle the container at opposite ends and engage under the lifting pins. The oppositely turned outer ends 23 on the lifting arm facilitate this straddling action and aid in centering the container with respect to the handling device.

Then, upon operation of the elevating mechanism on the vehicle in the usual or conventional manner, the carriage 8 is raised with the lifting arms 20 either horizontal,

as shown, or turned up a little above horizontal at their outer ends under the action of the power devices 24, thereby lifting the container. If these arms are tilted somewhat, the engagement of the lifting pins P therewith will cause the container to slide inward along the arms 20 into abutting engagement with the outer face of the carriage 8, especially `against the extended aprons 12 provided thereon. lf the upright track 5 is pivotally mounted for lateral swinging movement with respect to the vehicle, such swinging movement may be effected then to aid in holding the container in its supported position during transportation.

The automatic catch provided by the hooks 29 should be located in proper relation on the carriage 8 to engage with the bail B automatically as container C moves against the carriage. The bail B abuts against the inner portions of the notches 31, causing the hook members 29 to close automatically on the bail, thereby spreading the opposed locking shoulders 33 of these members sufliciently to permit the bar 34 to enter therebetween under the action of the spring 36. This locking bar 34 will hold the hooks 29 in secure tight engagement with the bail B throughout the period of time that the container is thereby connected with the vehicle, until the bar 34 is withdrawn positively by the operator through the cable 39 connected with the lever 38.

When the vehicle reaches the dumping position, the container C can be moved to its topmost position, as shown in FIG. 3, unless this Was done during transportation. When thus moved, the body of the container C will be held in elevated position on the carriage 8 by the automatic catch provided by the hooks 29, while the power devices 24 can be operated then to swing the lifting arms 20 downward, as shown in FIG. 3. Such downward swinging movement of the lifting arms 20 allows the drop bottom door D to open, thereby discharging the contents of the container.

As soon as the container is empty, the power devices 24 can be operated to close the drop bottom door through the action of the lifting arms 20. The container then is returned to a point of use for refilling, on the carriage 8.

It will be apparent from the drawings that the safety catch can be released only when all the weight is off the container and the latter is in its lowered position. It will be apparent from FIG. 3 that the angle of the cable 39 would preclude the release of the locking bar 34 when the container is in this elevated position. When weight is applied to the automatic catch, the friction on the locking pin 34 is so great that the latter cannot be withdrawn manually. Additional safety devices may be installed, if desired, such, for example, as a warning signal to the operator, one form of which is disclosed in the aforesaid Dempster et al. patent, No. 2,702,645, or by means of a conventional signal lamp, electrically operated.

This device effects a material saving in labor in handling such containers. It eliminates the necessity for an eXtra man merely to engage and disengage the connections with the lifting pins on the ends of the container at the beginning and end of the operation. It enables the entire operation to be performed by the driver of the vehicle.

While the invention has been illustrated and described in one embodiment, it is recognized that variations and changes may be made therein without departing from the invention as set forth in the claims.

I claim:

l. In a material handling device, the combination with an elongated container having lifting pins on opposite ends thereof and having a bail connected with the container for supporting the body thereof, of a carriage, catch means on the carriage engaging the bail to lock the container to the carriage, means for raising and lowering the carriage, a pair of arms spaced apart transversely of the carriage in embracing relation with the container beneath the lifting pins thereof, and means pivotally mounting the arms on the carriage for swinging movement in upright directions relative thereto for dumping the container while locked to the carriage.

2. In a material handling device, the combination with an elongated container having lifting pins on opposite ends thereof and having a bail connected with the container for supporting the body thereof, of a carriage, catch means on the carriage engaging the bail to lock the container to the carriage, means for raising and lowering the carriage, a pair of arms spaced apart transversely of the carriage in embracing relation with the container beneath the lifting pins thereof, means pivotally mounting the arms on the carriage for swinging movement in upright directions relative thereto, and power means connected with the respective arms for causing lowering and raising movements thereof for dumping the container while locked to the carriage.

3. In a material handling device, the combination with an elongated container having lifting pins on opposite ends thereof and having a Lbail connected with the container for supporting the body thereof, of a carriage, catch means on the carriage engaging the bail to lock the container to the carriage, means for raising and lowering the carriage, a pair of generally horizontal arms spaced apart transversely of the carriage in embracing relation with the container beneath the lifting pins thereof, means pivotally mounting the arms on the carriage for swinging movement in upright directions relative thereto, and hydraulic power devices connected with the respective arms for causing lowering and raising movements thereof relative to the carriage for dumping the container while locked to the carriage.

4. In a material handling device, the combination with an elongated container having lifting pins on opposite ends thereof and having a bail connected with the container for supporting the body thereof, of a carriage, means for raising and lowering the carriage, a pair of arms spaced apart transversely of the carriage in positions to embrace the container beneath the lifting pins thereof, means pivotally mounting the arms on the carriage for swinging movement in upright directions relative thereto, and an automatic hook on the carriage in position for engagement with the bail for supporting the body of the container during swinging movement of the arms.

5. In a material handling device, the combination with an elongated container having lifting pins on opposite ends thereof and having a bail connected with the container for supporting the body thereof, of a carriage, means for raising and lowering the carriage, a pair of arms spaced apart transversely of the carriage in -positions to embrace the container beneath the lifting pins thereof, means pivotally mounting the arms on the carriage for swinging movement in upright directions relative thereto, and an automatic catch mounted on the carriage in position for engagement with the bail to hold the body of the container relative to the carriage during swinging movement of the arms for dumping the container.

6. In a material handling device, the combination with an elongated container having a drop bottom door and lifting pins connected with the door at opposite ends of the container, said container having a bail connected with the body thereof, of a carriage, means for raising and lowering the carriage, a pair of arms spaced apart transversely of the carriage in positions to embrace the container beneath the lifting pins, thereof, means pivotally mounting the arms on the carriage for swinging movement in upright directions relative thereto, power means connected with the arms for causing raising and lowering movements thereof, and an automatic catch mounted on the carriage in position for engagement with the bail to hold the body of the container relative to the carriage upon .swinging movement of the arms to open the door for dumping the contents from the container.

7. In a material handling device including an upright track, the combination of a carriage mounted on the track for raising and lowering movements relative thereto, a pair of arms spaced apart transversely of the carriage in position to receiveV therebetween a container normally resting on the ground, and an automatic catch mounted on the carriage for automatically engaging and holding the container upon relative horizontal movement of the carriage and container toward each other, said automatic catch including means for embracing a portion of the container, locking means for engaging said embracing means, and remote controlled means for releasing the locking means.

8. In a material handling device including an upright track, the combination of a carriage mounted on the track for raising and lowering movements relative thereto, a pair of arms spaced apart transversely of the carriage in position to receive therebetween a container normally resting on the ground, and an automatic catch mounted on the carriage for automatically engaging and holding the container upon relative horizontal movement of the carriage and container toward each other, said automatic catch including a pair of coacting hooks having means for embracing a portion of the container, a locking member in coacting locking relation with the hooks, a lever operatively connected with the locking member, a cable connected with the lever for releasing the locking member, and guide means on the track for guiding the movement of the cable means.

9. In a material handling device including an upright track, the combination of a carriage mounted on the track for raising and lowering movements relative thereto, said carriage including transverse members, boX-likeaprons mounted on the outer ends of the transverse members and forming elongated extensions thereon at opposite sides of the carriage, said extensions being offset forwardly of said transverse members, a retaining hook mounted on one of said transverse members, each of said aprons including a pair of front and rear plates spaced apart, means connecting the plates together and with the transverse members,

upright brace members extending between the plates,.said

brace members and plates havingopenings therethrough, a pair of fork arms extending through the openings, and means pivotally mounting the arms on the brace members of the respective aprons.

10. In a material handling device including an .upright track, the combination with a container, of 'a carriage mounted on the track for raising and lowering movements relative thereto, a pair of arms spaced apart transversely lof and Vpivoted to the carriage greater than the length of the container in positions to receive the container therebetween, power means to swing said arms, and an automatic catch mounted on the carnage in position for connection with the container upon upward swinging movement of the arms on the carriage to slide the container against the carriage to hold the container in place relative to the carriage.

1l. In a material handling device including an upright track, the combination with a container, of a carriage mounted on the track for raising and lowering movements relative thereto, a pair of pivoted arms spaced apart transversely of the carriage greater than .the length of the container in position to receive the container therebetween, an automatic catch mounted on the carriage in position for connection with the container upon upward swinging movement of the arms on the carriage to slideV the container against the carriage to hold the container in place relative to the carriage, and remote controlled means for releasing said catch.

l2. In a material handling device including an upright track, the combination with a container having a bottom discharge door, supports at opposite ends of said door, of a carriage operatively mounted on the track for raising and lowering movements relative thereto, a pair of lifting arms mounted on the carriage and spaced apart transversely thereof greater than thel length of the container receiving the container therebetween and in position for lifting engagement with the supports on the ends of said discharge door, a catch mounted on the carriage in position for connection with the container to hold the container in place, and means providing for relative vertical movement of the arms relative to the catch providing for dumping of the container while held by the catch.

13. In a material handling device including an upright track, the combination with a container having a greater length than the width of the track, of a carriage mounted on the track for raising and lowering movements relative thereto, a pair of arms spaced apart transversely of the carriage outside the track and receiving 'the container therebetween, said arms being swingable vertically relative to said carriage, and an automatic catch mounted on the carriage and connected with the container upon relative swinging movement between the arms and the catch to hold the container in place relative to the carriage.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 621,574 Kinsey Mar. 21, 1899 2,325,568 Eaton July 27, 1943 2,357,548 Randall Sept, 5, 1944 2,404,830 Dempster .Tuly 30, 1946 2,445,106 Dempster July 13, 1948 2,447,300 Williams Aug. 17, 1948 2,665,022 Dunham Ian. 5, 1954 2,678,743 Backofen et al. May 18, 1954 2,689,054 Martin Sept. 14, 1954 2,702,645 Dempster Feb. 22, 1955 2,708,043 Streb et al.V May 10, 1955 2,738,087 Arnot Mar. 13, 1956 FOREIGN PATENTS V527,185 Belgium Mar. 31, 1954 

